Speaker 1: Hey, says dad, Mom.
Speaker 2: Come on your.
Speaker 1: Story hours on presenting your story hour building for a
better tomorrow.
Speaker 2: Hi, everybody, this is Aunt Carrol.
Speaker 3: And I'm uncle Dan, and we both welcome you with
open arms. We're so glad you've joined us for our
program today. What do you have planned for us, Aunt Carrol?
Speaker 2: Well, if you'll remember, we've been presenting a series on
the life of Thomas Jefferson, and this is the last installment.
Speaker 3: That's right. Let's see now at the end of our
last program. Thomas Jefferson, he was vice president of the
United States and John Adams was president.
Speaker 2: As you recall, they represented different political parties. John Adams
was a Federalist and Jefferson was a Republican. It all
had to do with the way in which the president
and vice president were selected in those days. Hmm.
Speaker 3: I do remember that now that you mention it.
Speaker 2: They were both great Americans and both had played key
roles in secure during American independence from British rule. Also,
they'd been good friends through the years. But now things
were going so well.
Speaker 3: So let's get back to the man, Carol, what do
you say.
Speaker 2: All right? I call this story the third president during
the four year presidency of John Adams. Vice President Thomas
Jefferson was uncomfortable with a number of policies put into
place by Adams, one of which was the Alien and
Sedition Act of seventeen ninety eight. This act was intended
by Adams to increase national security, but was viewed by
Jefferson and his party as trying to block the free
speech of those not agreeing with the policies of government.
Thomas and his friend James Madison discussed the situation.
Speaker 4: You know, James, I have serious doubts that it's legal
for Congress to have passed such a law. It is
in direct opposition to the First Amendment, which guarantees the
freedom of speech.
Speaker 5: Yes, and Adams even has a list of people that
is illegal to speak out.
Speaker 4: Again, this brings America very close to tyranny if its
citizens are not allowed to speak their minds.
Speaker 5: And yet Adams is cheered as a hero wherever he goes,
bands play flags, wave cannons are fired.
Speaker 4: They cheer his efforts to protect America. They seem not
to realize how little he trusts the common man and
how he cuts down their civil liberties. At any rate,
I'm a great believer in states' rights. Perhaps there will
be individual states that will oppose these actions.
Speaker 2: As Adam's term of office began to draw to a close,
the opposing Republican party put Thomas Jefferson forth as their candidate,
with Aaron Burr running as vice president. Many vicious rumors
were circulated.
Speaker 6: Listen to this right here in the Connecticut Current, our
own Hartford newspaper. Yes, they say here that if Jefferson
is elected, murder and robbery, and the list goes on
and on, will all be openly taught and practiced.
Speaker 2: That's completely outrageous.
Speaker 6: Not only outrageous, my dear, but untrue. Just like the
rumors that have been spreading that Jefferson doesn't believe in God.
Speaker 2: Oh, the Jefferson's dead.
Speaker 6: They're just trying to keep people from voting in a Republican.
Speaker 2: In truth. Accusations flew from both sides. However, when the
election was over, Adams and his party lost and Jefferson
was eventually declared the winner. On March fourth, eighteen oh one,
he took his oath of office, the first president to
have been sworn in at the new Capitol Building, the
construction of Washington, d C. First known as Federal City
had begun in seventeen ninety, and both the President's House
known today as the White House, and the Capitol Building
were still under construction at this time. At any rate,
the words Thomas Jefferson spoke at his inaugural speech were
meant to help pull the country back together.
Speaker 4: Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.
We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.
Speaker 2: And as if in answer to the accusations that he
was an atheist, he concluded his address with these words, and.
Speaker 4: May that infinite power which rules the destinies of the
universe lead our councils to what is best.
Speaker 2: Jefferson's presidency was in contrast to that of Washington and Adams,
both of whom retained some of the traditional formalities that
were more associated with royalty. Jefferson, however, scuffed about the
President's house and slippers and didn't dress an elegant formal
attire for cabinet meetings or parties, and he immediately tried
to change what he considered to be mistakes of the
previous administration. He repealed taxes and pardoned people imprisoned under
the Alien and sedition acts. Then within two months he
faced his first international crisis.
Speaker 4: I've called this cabinet meeting because of the situation off
the Barbary coast in Africa. As you know, years pirates
have been capturing ships and holding them and their crew
members for ransom, including American ships. I have ordered a
squadron of naval vessels to be ready to set sail
for Tripoli in response. So I now seek your council.
Shall the squadron now at Norfolk be ordered to cruise
in the Mediterranean. This is the first time for such
an action, But I say yes.
Speaker 1: But would our ships be authorized to destroy enemy vessels?
Speaker 7: Certainly if they are attacked.
Speaker 1: Are we agreed?
Speaker 4: Then, when under attack, the captains of our ships have
the right to destroy enemy vessels.
Speaker 1: And as commander in chief of our forces, you have
the right to deploy the squadrons to defend our ships. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Next came a critical decision about the vast Louisiana territory.
This huge area stretched from New Orleans north to what
is now Minnesota, west to include all the land over
to what is now Montana, and south again to parts
of present day New Mexico and Texas. Although the territory
belonged to Spain. Spain had been weakened by various wars,
and it was on the verge of handing the land
back to France. Jefferson discussed the situation with James Madison.
Speaker 8: Mister Madison has arrived, mister President.
Speaker 4: Oh, thank you, Merriwether send him in, mister President, James. James,
come in, have a seat, and how are you this morning?
My friend?
Speaker 5: Very well, thank you, but you look a bit troubled.
Speaker 4: Perhaps, as you know, I've already contacted Robert Livingstone, our
minister to France, to convey our desire to secure the
Louisiana territory for the United States.
Speaker 5: Yes, France has emerged again as a world power.
Speaker 4: And as such we definitely do not need France on
our Doorstay.
Speaker 5: I understand completely. France would control the entrance to the
Mississippi at New Orleans.
Speaker 4: And all the land beyond.
Speaker 5: True, So am I correct in thinking that if the
territory were handed to France, we might have to form
an alliance with the British in order to keep France
at bay. They are, after all, each gearing up for
war against the other.
Speaker 4: That is precisely my worry. We both know what a
nightmare that would be, England being so recent an enemy,
and what if England were to win.
Speaker 5: Once again, we would be in danger of their surrounding us.
Speaker 4: So, James, it is my hope that Napoleon can be
convinced to sell the Louisiana territory to us, even though
this plan may represent a stretch of my presidential power. Anyway,
I'm counting on the possibility that money will speak very
loudly to France just now.
Speaker 5: Especially since they will need funding for the impending war. Exactly, so,
I've written to our colleague James Monroe. I'm sending him
to Paris to assist Livingstone in negotiations. Let us hope
for their complete success.
Speaker 2: In the end, Napoleon did indeed agree to sell the
Louisiana territory to the United States, and for the somewhat
modest sum of fifteen million dollars. Word of the treaty
reached Jefferson on July third, eighteen oh three, and was
published in the news on the fourth of July. This
was perhaps the largest land purchase in history and an
amazing stroke of good fortune for the United States, which
more than double the size of the country. Jefferson had
a keen interest in these vast lands and had already
begun planning for an exploration party to traverse the area
to record its geography.
Speaker 4: Come in, ah, Merriweather, here's the information on the polygraph.
Sh Yes, thank you ingenious device, don't you think very ingenious?
Speaker 8: You know, mister President, Usually the duties of the Personal
Secretary to the President include letter writing. I am more
than willing.
Speaker 4: But yes, yes, I know. I prefer to write my
own letters. However, with this device, I can move one
of the pens to write. And look here at the drawing. Yes,
I see.
Speaker 8: When you move one pen, the other tax pen will
move with it and make a copy of what you're.
Speaker 4: Writing, exactly. Very cleverly, I'll be able to keep a
copy and send the original to its intended recipient. And you,
my friend, what are you thinking, sir? I have something
in mind for you far more interesting than letter writing
or even greeting guests to the White House.
Speaker 3: Huh.
Speaker 4: Do you remember some time ago when I was able
to convince Congress to allocate funds for an exploration party
into the West.
Speaker 8: Yes, twenty five hundred dollars. If I remember correctly.
Speaker 4: And no doubt you remember all of our own discussions
about this territory, the mountain ranges, the vast grasslands, and
the great rivers, both the Mississippi and the Missouri.
Speaker 8: And the idea of setting up commerce with the Indians,
or even finding a possible water passage to the Pacific.
Speaker 4: Yes, so, my friend, I think there is no better
man to head up the expedition than yourself, Merriweather Lewis. Oh, sir, now,
my friend, you are precisely the right person. I know
this enterprise is safe in your hands.
Speaker 8: Well, I it'll take months to prepare, mister President. We'll
need supplies, boats, personnel, Oh, I'm sure, and i'll need
assistance a co leader I know just the man, William Clark.
I served with them in the Army.
Speaker 3: Excellent.
Speaker 4: I'll draw up a list of objectives.
Speaker 8: And instructions, and I'll begin immediately to pull all of
the supplies and equipment together.
Speaker 3: Say Aunt Carol. While Meriwether Lewis packs his bags, I'd
like to remind all our listeners about the fun things
that are available on our website.
Speaker 2: Good idea, Uncle Dan.
Speaker 3: Now, I won't have time to mention everything, but I
want you all to know about Clubhouse Magazine. Every month
you'll find a new issue posted, and just in case
you've missed some of the past, we keep all the
latest magazines right there for you to enjoy.
Speaker 2: Yes, and since you like stories, we want you to
know that there are a lot of good stories included
in the magazine, along with puzzles, jokes, poems, recipes, cartoons
and more so why not check it out.
Speaker 3: Our website address is your Story hour dot org. That's
your Story hour, one word dot oorg. Just click on
Clubhouse and you'll see all the magazines there, just waiting
for you. They're free and they're fun.
Speaker 2: You'll also find our free podcasts, a link to enable
you to listen to our latest broadcast online, and invitation
to join thousands of other kids in the free Adventures course,
a place to leave comments, a listing of all the
audio stories we have available, and more.
Speaker 3: So, give us a try. Just go to your Story Hour.
That that's all one word dot org. And now, Aunt Carrol, Yes,
do you think Meriwether Lewis has had enough time to
pack those bags?
Speaker 7: Well?
Speaker 2: I think maybe he has, at least I'm ready to continue.
So here now is the conclusion of today's story, which
I call the third President. In the spring of eighteen
oh four, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark launched their Core
of Discovery expedition. Excitement over that endeavor, along with approval
for the Louisiana purchase, propelled Jefferson into a very positive
light with his countrymen. In spite of the problems caused
by the last minute appointments that John Adams had made
in an attempt to overload key positions with members of
his party, and in spite of negative criticisms by the Federalists,
Jefferson's first term of office was successful and generally quite popular.
In addition, he hosted frequent dinner parties at what we
now call the White House, many of which were designed
to help him become I'm better acquainted with members of Congress.
Speaker 7: Ah, Senator Plumer, delicious dessert, this ice cream as they
call it.
Speaker 9: Indeed, Senator, you know, I understand that over the course
of these months, every Senator has been invited to the
President's house for dinner.
Speaker 7: Yes, and some several times yourself for example.
Speaker 9: I have been honored, Senator. Yes, as you say, the
President had seemed desires to stay well informed on the issues.
I find him to be very knowledgeable and nearly every
subject in fact, from natural history to religion, mathematics, politics,
world the best ice, the national debt.
Speaker 7: Yes, I understand he speaks six languages. Oh look there
he's standing.
Speaker 4: And now, my colleagues, I present to you a treat
made possible by the generosity of a congregation in Cheshire, Massachusetts.
Speaker 9: Oh the cheese, some of you may know.
Speaker 4: They presented me with the largest round of cheese that
can ever be imagined.
Speaker 9: That was two years ago.
Speaker 4: Now I have chosen to share this fine gift with
all my guests, So may you enjoy it as many
have done before you.
Speaker 9: When the cheese is passed, my friend, take care, take care. Yes,
the cheese is far from good, take my word for it.
But it was a well meant gesture, which, by the way,
the President ended up paying for out of his own pocket.
Oh yes, he wanted to make sure that no one
could think that his favor was being bought. What you
are the sample is a piece of the President's twelve
hundred pound cheese. He's still trying to get rid of
it after two years.
Speaker 2: In spite of Jefferson's popularity and political savvy. However, the
attacks by the press continued, and his saddest moment occurred
when his youngest daughter, Maria Jefferson F's or Polly, died unexpectedly.
He received condolences from Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams,
since she had formed a close relationship with Polly when
the girl was young. Thomas wrote back and tried to
repair the relationship between himself and the Adamses, but to
no avail. Much political damage had been done between them,
and the time for healing had not come. His second
term of office began well, however, uh.
Speaker 4: Huh, it looks as if our efforts to secure an
agreement with the Bobbery pirates has been successful after all,
and very good. All of the Americans being held have
been ransomed. Excellent news.
Speaker 2: Then, in eighteen oh six, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
returned from their expedition. While they hadn't discovered a waterway
to the Pacific with an easy portage of the Missouri River,
they did triumphantly return with a vast array of maps
and reports on the geography, natural history, plants, animals, and
inhabitants of the region that were of great interest to
the scientific community and to the President.
Speaker 8: And now, mister President, we are honored to present you
with these choice animal pelts, specimens of just some of
the many animals we encountered on our expedition.
Speaker 4: Why these are wonderful. I shall display them here at
the President's House and also at Monticello. Gentlemen, I hardly
need to emphasize what a service you have performed for
this country. I hope your expedition and will help to
eventually secure the entire Northwest for the United States of America.
Speaker 2: In spite of the bright moments, however, Jefferson's second term
was less satisfying than the first. Political infighting, disagreement over
his attempts to acquire Florida for the United States, scandals
revolving around Aaron Burr, who had been as Vice president
during his first term, and the challenges he faced as
he dealt with problems caused by the war between England
and France, all took their toll. By the time his
last days in office neared, he was weary and eager
to get back to the private life at Monticello. He
wrote to one of his friends.
Speaker 4: Never did a prisoner released from his chains feel such
relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power.
Speaker 2: Always torn between his duty to country and his love
of being a gentleman farmer, Thomas Jefferson felt that his
time had come to enjoy the latter. After witnessing the
inauguration of his friend and colleague James Madison as President,
Thomas left Washington and headed home. Throughout the years of
retirement from public office, he continued his passion for renovating Monticello.
In fact, improvements and changes to the central building and
surroundings became a never ending endeavor, and he pursued as
many interests such as music, botany, astronomy, carpentry, and he
also loved tinkering with novel projects.
Speaker 1: There.
Speaker 4: Now, I just attached the cannonball weight here. Aha, it
has finished. My cannon ball clock that not only tells
the time of day, but registers each day as the
week goes by.
Speaker 2: Unfortunately, because of the heavy debt which he had inherited
and which evolved from managing Monticello, his beloved estate was
always on the edge of financial disaster. However, not forgetting
his public duty Thomas also functioned as a source of
wisdom and advice for both Presidents James Madison and James Monroe.
In addition, when the British entered Washington, d C. During
the War of eighteen twelve and burned several key buildings,
including the Library of Congress, Thomas offered to sell his
extensive personal library to the United States to replace the loss.
Speaker 3: Ah.
Speaker 4: Yes, this one a special favorite of mine. I remember
the little bookshop in Paris, father, Father, in here, Patsy, dear, Ah,
there you.
Speaker 2: Are almost done.
Speaker 7: I see.
Speaker 2: Where are the servants to help you pack your library?
Speaker 4: Oh, now, don't worry. I just gave them a little break.
You know, I'm going to miss these volumes. I've spent
years collecting them. Oh, I know, even when we were
in Europe. Yes, and each one is like a dear
old friend mine. And just how many friends are you
packing up for Washington, Father, six thousand, four hundred and
eighty seven, to be exact.
Speaker 8: Oh, I see, Well, if I know you, you'll just start
collecting all over again. I don't think you can live
without books.
Speaker 4: Father. Perhaps, of course, I'm keeping a few volumes on
classical literature from my own enjoyment. And this one your
little Bible, my special edition. I've clipped passages from the
four Gospels that I believe represent the purest philosophy and
teachings of Jesus, pasted them in this little book in
chronological order.
Speaker 2: Oh, I know you carry it with you always.
Speaker 4: Indeed I do, my dear right here in my pocket. Anyway,
The money that I'll receive for the rest of my collection,
nearly twenty four thousand dollars, will help pay some of
the outstanding bills. I do want to be able to
bequeath Monticello to my ear. In the meantime, I love
having you and all your family living with me.
Speaker 8: Here, all eleven grandchildren.
Speaker 4: Every single one. I am the most fortunate atove grandfathers.
Speaker 2: Perhaps the accomplishment of which Thomas was most proud during
his post presidential years was that of establishing a new university.
For many years, he'd been in favor of some type
of free public education and the establishment of schools that
were not tied to any particular religion. At that time,
most of the universities had been founded by various religious groups,
including Yale, Harvard, and Virginia's own William and Mary. In
eighteen eighteen, the Virginia Legislature placed Jefferson as chairman of
a commission whose job it was to set the guidelines
for a new college for which he campaigned.
Speaker 4: It is our aim, gentlemen, to establish an institution based
on religious liberty for all, which will produced statesmen, legislators,
and judges to assist the public. An institution which will
teach the principles and structure of government, advanced the arts
and sciences, promote the interests of agriculture, and develop the
reasoning powers, character and virtues of our youth to ensure
their happiness.
Speaker 2: Not only did Jefferson set the educational goals for the college,
which became the University of Virginia, but he also produced
the architectural plans for the buildings and the layout of
the campus. One other happy development gave Thomas much pleasure
in his senior years the re establishment of his friendship
with John Adams. The two former presidents resumed a heartwarming
correspondence between themselves starting in January of eighteen twelve that
left an extensive record of their involvement in and the
political thoughts surrounding the establishment of the United States. In response,
to one letter he received from Adams, Jefferson penned these words.
Speaker 4: A letter from you calls up recollections very dear to
my mind. It carries me back to the times when,
beset with difficulties and dangers, we were fellow laborers in
the same cause, struggling for what is most valuable to man,
his right of self government, laboring always at the same ore,
with some wave ever ahead, threatening to overwhelm us, and
yet passing harmless under our bark. We knew not how
we rode through the storm with heart and hand and
made a happy port.
Speaker 2: As the years rolled by, the United States, although beset
by many challenges, continued to offer to its citizens that
same happy port the freedoms that were so dearly established
by the efforts of the founding fathers. And then, on
July fourth, eighteen twenty six, exactly fifty years to the
day that the Continental Congress had approved the words of
the Declaration of Independence, both its author, Thomas Jefferson, age
eighty three and his friend John Adams, age ninety, lay
on their death beds just the night before. At about
seven o'clock in the evening, Jefferson surfaced from unconsciousness.
Speaker 4: To ask is it the fourth.
Speaker 2: His doctor answered that indeed it soon would be, and
the next day, at about noon on the fourth of July,
Thomas Jefferson breathed his last That same afternoon, just before
his own death, John Adams uttered these last words. Thomas
Jefferson survived, little did he know that his friend and
fellow lion of liberty had already passed away. Sadly, Thomas
Jefferson had not been able to accomplish all that he wished.
Encumbered by debt, Monticello had to be sold through a lottery,
so he could not pass it on to his family.
His lifelong attempts to curb and finally abolish the institution
of slavery had failed, and although his own slaves were
considered property tied to Monticello, he was able to free
just a handful of them at his death. But in
spite of his disappointments, the spirit and determination of this
amazing patriot live on today and continue to have a
positive impact on the life of every American. His assertion
in the Declaration of Independence that we hold these truths,
that each man has certain unalienable rights to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness ring through the years to
touch our lives and our hearts even in our modern, global,
twenty first century world.
Speaker 3: Wow, what an amazing man at Carol.
Speaker 2: And you know Uncle Dan. He had a certain humility
about him as well. For example, do you know that
he wrote beforehand exactly what he wanted to have engraved
on his tombstone.
Speaker 3: I seem to remember something about that. He said he
wanted certain words, nothing more, nothing less.
Speaker 2: Yes, exactly. His tombstone reads, here was buried Thomas Jefferson,
author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of
Virginia for religious Freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.
And then it lists the dates of his birth and death.
Speaker 3: And it doesn't even mention that he was the third
President of the United States. Quite remarkable.
Speaker 2: Well, I guess there wouldn't be room to write everything
about him. But in spite of the brief inscription on
his tombstone, his intellect has been recognized through the years.
In nineteen sixty two, for example, when President John Kennedy
addressed a group of Nobel Prize winners.
Speaker 3: Nobel Prize winners, you mean the most renowned scientists and
accomplished people on the planet.
Speaker 2: That's right, Uncle Anne. They were gathered for a dinner
given in their honor, and Kennedy said, this is the
most extraordinary collection of talent of human knowledge that has
ever been gathered together at the White House, with the
possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.
Speaker 3: Well, well, that's quite a tribute to the genius of
Thomas Jefferson to say that he possessed as much or
more talent and knowledge than all the Nobel Prize winners
at the dinner party.
Speaker 2: It certainly is.
Speaker 9: Oh.
Speaker 3: By the way, our story informed us that Jefferson was
the one who was responsible for launching the Lewis and
Clark expedition.
Speaker 2: Yes, that's right.
Speaker 3: Well, I thought our listeners might like to know that
we have two stories on Sakajawea, who was an Indian
guide for that very adventure. Maybe they'd like to hear
those stories as well.
Speaker 2: Great idea, Uncle Dan. The saka Jaweya stories are listed
on our website at your story hour dot org under
Great Stories, Volume three, and they're available for purchase either
in that CD album or as downloads in MP three format.
Speaker 3: Now, for those who would rather check out our story
offerings by catalog. You can call our toll free now
number at eight hundred nine eight seven seven eight seven nine,
and that's for a free catalog.
Speaker 2: That's one eight hundred nine eight seven seventy eight seventy nine.
Or you can write to us at Box eight Niles.
That's Ni L. E. S. Michigan four nine one two
zero once again Box eight Niles, Michigan, four nine one
two zero.
Speaker 3: And now it's time for us to go. So we
hope everyone listening in has enjoyed our series on Thomas Jefferson,
and we invite everyone to join us next time for
another exciting story.
Speaker 1: See you then, this has been your story hour building
for a better tomorrow.
Speaker 2: This is Ann, Carrol and Uncle Anne saying goodbye everyone,
see you again next time.
Speaker 4: The